Metal Reviews

I see the term thrown around a lot, but I don't really understand what it describes. Bands I've heard that are called this sound more like Doom, Gothic or just Melodic metal in general.

It's indeed a pretty ambiguous subgenre. Moonspell it's the first band that comes to mind.

The bands that I've heard described as "Dark" Metal were always just metal bands that weren't exactly black or death metal but still were very "dark" and heavy in nature but not what one would consider to be black or death metal, they may have black metal or possibly industrial influence though.

Dark Metal can be described as atmospheric in nature. As you have said a lot of Gothic, DM, BM, melodic, Avant-Garde all have "Dark" moments in general. Although bands that use layers of synthesizers and many layers of guitars have more of the characteristics of Dark Metal in general. A good example of atmospheric metal that is both heavy and dense in nature is Insomnium. Especially their later albums. Rotting Christ is another great example. Albums such as Khronos, Genesis, Sanctus Diavolos and Sleep of the Angels are prime examples of Dark and atmospheric music. Repetition might go hand-in-hand with BM although when considering the gravity that it creates it instantly becomes atmospheric either being dark or more optimistic in general. The term optimistic is being used very loosely, by the way. I was also going to mention Industrial which Husker beat me to it. I suppose Dark Metal will have a different sort of energy when conveyed to the listener. Aeternus (Norway) is another good example.

Celtic Frost's Monotheist is another good example.

Isn't early Bethlehem often credited with "inventing" dark metal? Or is that just because of their album with the same name?

I always thought it was a naff term for those bands that straddle the black/goth line, like Moonspell and Rotting Christ. Depends who you ask, really.

I suppose there was an intention of their debut to be called Dark Metal . But I think it was earlier that bands like Venom and Celtic Frost went for a much darker and more sinister sound. At the end of the day Dark Metal is sometimes such an abstract and general term to talk about.

Same. Another superfluous genre just like Viking Metal.

Agree with the descriptions here. In short, it's something that sounds like black metal, but is not black metal. . Something like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mpDff4E ... re=related

Nice choice Thy Serpent! I was thinking of a track from your namesake, actually: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVgiXoG0VYE

That 2000 ep was such a tasty little treat, a shame they never released anything else.

Evergrey come to mind.

Ah yes ! Brilliant band. I don't see them releasing anything more though

Viking metal = avoid.

Viking black metal on the other hand...

I've always seen Dark metal similar to what Zad's original post as, but I can also see the case being made for it as being a catch-em-all umbrella term. For some reason bands like latter-Varathron, Mid-era Rotting Christ, Agalloch, and Morgul could fit the bill, but once again these are all bands that fit in subgenres. It could really go either way in my opinion.